Nation

The U.S. will develop a federal heat standard for the first time. Here's what advocates and labor experts want

By Chloe Jones, Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado

The Biden Administration recently announced new protections for people working in extreme heat, but advocates say the move is just a first step.

WATCH: Biden champions vaccine mandates during visit to Chicago

By Zeke Miller, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press

President Joe Biden on Thursday championed COVID-19 vaccination requirements, determined that the roughly 67 million unvaccinated American adults must get the shot even as he acknowledged that mandates weren't his “first instinct.”…

More than 120,000 U.S. kids had caregivers die during pandemic, study finds

By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press

A new study suggests the number of U.S. children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic may be larger than previously estimated. And the toll has been far greater among Black and Hispanic Americans.

U.S. health experts urge flu shots to avoid 'twindemic'

By Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccination for just about everyone starting with 6-month-old babies.

Stalled weather front drenches Alabama, at least 4 killed in floods

By Jay Reeves, Associated Press

Dozens of people had to be rescued Wednesday night in central Alabama, where the National Weather Service said as much as 13 inches of rain fell.

WATCH: Governors in Northeast discuss gun violence prevention

By Mark Scolforo, Associated Press

The governors of four northeastern states agreed Thursday to share information about firearms purchases to help detect and investigate straw buyers and other gun crimes.

WATCH: Federal grand jury indicts 18 former NBA players for defrauding health care plan

By Larry Neumeister, Tim Reynolds, Associated Press

Eighteen former NBA players were charged Thursday with pocketing about $2.5 million illegally by defrauding the league's health and welfare benefit plan in a scam that authorities said involved claiming fictitious medical and dental expenses.

Agreement reached on short-term debt ceiling fix

By Kevin Freking, Josh Boak, Associated Press

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday an agreement has been reached with Republicans to extend the government's borrowing authority into December, temporarily averting a debt crisis.

CIA creates working group on China as threats keep rising

By Nomaan Merchant, Associated Press

The group will become one of fewer than a dozen mission centers operated by the CIA, with weekly director-level meetings intended to drive the agency's strategy toward China.

WATCH: House Oversight Committee reviews Arizona's election audit

By Bob Christie, Associated Press

Democratic members of a U.S. House committee on Thursday questioned Arizona officials on the potential damage that a partisan review of the state's 2020 election results had on trust in American elections.